Arctic vegetation lies dormant for around 9 months under a blanket of snow. When the Summer temperatures melt the top layer of permafrost (frozen earth) this creates a wetland environment where plants can thrive. The roots (if any) are shallow and many Arctic plants grow low to the ground and close together, where they are protected from winds and low temperatures.

Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival, Cordova, AlaskaEach year in May the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival is held in Cordova. The Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival provides the ideal opportunity for bird watchers to be part of this epic migration. Many activities...

By Peter Prokosch

Humpback Whale, Franz Josef Land, Russian Arctic National ParkRussia in 2009 declared the High Arctic archipelago Franz Josef Land, including a former nature reserve in the same area as well as the Northern part of Novaya Zemlya, as "Russian Arctic National Park". Its total area is...

By Peter Prokosch

Franz Josef Land 2012 - VideoVideo From UNEP/GRID-Arendal: GRID-Arendal was on board of m/v Ortelius of Oceanwide Expedtions to Franz Josef Land, August 9-22, 2012, in order to lecture on Arctic environmental developments and Linking Tourism & Conse...

By Peter Prokosch

Cordova Harbor, Copper River Delta, AlaskaCordova and the Copper River Delta are famous for wild salmon, and much of the local economy is related to fishing and salmon processing. Each year in May the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival is held in Cordova. The...

By Peter Prokosch

Tourists Caring for the Environment, Bell Island, Franz Josef Land/Russian Arctic National ParkRussia in 2009 declared the High Arctic archipelago Franz Josef Land, including a former nature reserve in the same area as well as the Northern part of Novaya Zemlya, as "Russian Arctic National Park". Its total area is...

By Peter Prokosch

Tourist with Arctic Poppies, Georgeland/Franz Josef Land, Russian Arctic National ParkIn the Arctic desert on Franz Josef Land are the few highly specialized plant species, flowering in the very short summer season, a great attraction for tourists interested in nature. The 2009 established Russian Arctic ...

By Peter Prokosch

Saltmarshes and tidal flats, Copper River Delta, AlaskaThe Copper River Delta, which extends for 2,800 km2 is considered the largest contiguous wetlands - partly tidal flats - along the Pacific coast of North America. It is used annually by 16 million shorebirds, including t...

By Peter Prokosch

Arctic tern, Sterna paradiseaThe Arctic Tern enjoys the most hours of sunlight of any animal on Earth. This long distance migratory species has a circumpolar breeding range up to the high Arctic, where there is constant sunshine in summer. As winter...